When 'Z' meant joy, freedom and humour to Russians and Ukrainians
For much of the post-Soviet era, 'Z' was the symbol of a music festival in Crimea that united people across borders. Written by Clément Girardot.Read by Serhij Zulkarnieiev.
28 Aug 202217min
The deadly virus Nigerians fear more than COVID-19: Lassa fever
On this week’s AJ Longreads, we go inside a Nigerian hospital ward treating Lassa, a virus that infects up to 300,000 people in West Africa each year. Written by Femke van Zeijl. Read by Mapendo Munthali.
21 Aug 202213min
'I'll be sacrificed': The lost and sold daughters of Afghanistan
A year on from the takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan, issues of child marriage, access to education and financial hardship are leaving women and girls to wonder what the future holds for them. Written by Robyn Huang. Read by Mohita Namjoshi.
14 Aug 202221min
Murdered women: Sabina Nessa, ‘a kind and generous soul’
As part of Al Jazeera's series on murdered women, we explore the life and death of Sabina Nessa. Her family say she was ‘a kind and generous soul’. But they question why there was not wider media attention about her death and why some lives get more coverage than others. Written by Julie Bindel. Read by Laura Lockwood.
7 Aug 202216min
'Ready for rescue': Saving refugee lives in the Mediterranean Sea
Journalist Lexie Harrison-Cripps recently boarded a Doctors Without Borders search and rescue ship along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The remote location makes it virtually impossible to report on without an invitation from an NGO. As a result, every year thousands of people live - and die - in horrific conditions while governments go unchecked. Written and read by Lexie Harrison-Cripps.
31 Jul 202217min
The Kyiv museum staff who stayed to protect cherished artefacts
In times of war, safeguarding valuable artefacts including those signifying Ukrainian statehood has become a priority for cultural heritage workers. Written and read by Nils Adler.
24 Jul 202217min
'You’ll get it in your veins': Australia's black-opal miners
For black opal miners in Lightning Ridge, Australia, the search for one of the world’s most sought-after gems is just as alluring as the stone itself. Written by Zoe Osborne and Alex Kitanov. Read by me, Emma Jones.
17 Jul 202217min
Psychotherapists help Yazidis heal layers of trauma in Iraq
New mental health options are being made available in northern Iraq, but psychotherapists are worried that without continued support, progress will halt. Written by Lynzy Billing. Read by Loveday Smith.
10 Jul 202218min
